This red reveals dense, concentrated flavors of blackberry, blueberry, iron and tar. Lively and comes together on the long, dark chocolate-tinged finish. Best from 2024 through 2035. 1,000 cases made, 200 cases imported.??–BS??Region: Italy / Chianti Classico Select to Add

The organic Nittardi 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva is 95% Sangiovese enhanced with just a touch of Merlot for extra softness and cherry sweetness. This vintage has lightly macerated aromas with dried plum and fruit skin that add lift or vertical intensity to the bouquet (with an aldehydic hint as well). The wine is bright and lifted with a medium-bodied finish. Production is 8,000 bottles.

Nittardi is one of my favorite estates in Castellina in Chianti thanks to the enormous attention on aesthetics practiced at this modern art-loving property. The hot-vintage 2017 Chianti Classico Riserva is sultry, velvety and deep. It shows a saturated color and dark berry characteristics with plum, black cherry, spice and leather. What stands out most in the Riserva is the rich and supple quality of the mouthfeel and the almost integrated tannins that are still tight. Nittardi has successfully harnessed the warm vintage to create a wine that should evolve nicely in the bottle. This is a good pairing to a traditional Sienese pici al buristo, the local pasta with blood-sausage sauce.

Dense and saturated with black currant, black cherry and blueberry flavors, this red has power and grace. Dusty tannins and vibrant acidity give lift and length, while earth and underbrush accents linger. Best from 2024 through 2040. 800 cases made, 80 cases imported.??–BS??Region: Italy / Chianti Classico Select to Add

The Nittardi 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva is a handsome and balanced wine that delivers lots of intensity, partly due to the quality of the primary fruit and partly due to the spicy oak. The wine opens to a dark, inky appearance with more plum and blackberry than you get in your standard Chianti Classico (those wines tend to veer toward red and purple fruits instead). The wine, representing a blend of 97% Sangiovese and 3% Merlot, offers lots of power and momentum with soft tannins and a nice touch of crisp acidity on the close. Serve it with an ossobuco and a side of extra cheesy risotto. A mere 8,000 bottles were made.